The Kansas-based group now infamous for its picketing of funerals for soldiers, slain college students and others — arguing that the United States’ embrace of homosexuality has damned its citizens — is planning to picket outside six churches in Gainesville.

Counter-protest groups are making plans to challenge the members of the church as they make the rounds through Gainesville. The police will be on hand to keep the peace.

The question before the Times gang this week is: How should a community newspaper cover such an event, given the tension between giving a scorned group a platform and the need and responsibility to inform the public about what will be at best an offensive display for most and at worst a potentially dangerous situation?This week, Shannon, Nate and Nick talk through how The Times plans to cover the February display.

If you want to help sustain community journalism like this in North Georgia, you can subscribe to honestly local news.

You can sign up for our morning and afternoon news emails, Go, a weekly food and drink newsletter, and Branch Out, a weekly newsletter focused on South Hall.